The 6 Best Organizers We Bought in 2020

You may have heard us say this before, but we hate telling you guys to buy something specific in order to get organized. Because, usually, you can get a drawer or a cabinet in order without having to buy anything at all. But sometimes … sometimes the right organizer can make all the difference. And we have six very instances from just this year where that was the case. We asked Kitchn staffers to share the best organizing tools they bought in 2020 and here’s what came up. (Turns out, we were really big on organizing pots, pot lids, and spices!)

“We used to store our pot lids in the drawer under the oven (the only space I had available!) but I hated that system because the drawer is a pain to open and it’s sometimes hot down there when the oven is on and it’s super awkward. We got this organizer and keep it right next to the stove. Now, the pot lids stand at attention so they’re ready whenever we need them.” — Nina Elder, Executive Food Director

“I also hated storing my lids in the oven! Which is why I was so incredibly excited to order these lid organizers. They come in a two-pack, can be screwed into the back of a cabinet door, and hold three lids each. I also love that they’re so inexpensive.”— Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm, Lifestyle Editor

“You may remember that I already wrote about how much joy my little spice riser has been bringing me this year, but I’d like to talk about it again, please! My obsession lies in the fact that it’s as useful as it is gorgeous. It’s currently out of stock, but I’ve found a similar (and less expensive!) option for you instead!” — Lauren Masur, Lifestyle Editor

“I bought the Spicy Shelf at the suggestion of a former coworker, who took one look at my sad attempt at spice organization and practically begged me to order the expandable, extendable storage solution of my dreams. Not only was I able to finally get my erratic collection of spices neatly stacked up in an easy-to-reach cabinet, but I was also able to free my counter of a bulky spice rack I never had room for in the first place. As a New Yorker, getting six inches of precious counter real estate back is basically like getting a whole new kitchen.” — Caroline Schnapp, Social Media Manager

“We bought this very basic cart for virtual school supplies (Chromebooks, notebooks, markers, etc!) so we can roll it around the house during the school day. It often spends the entire day next to our kitchen table and then we can roll it into our front closest when school is over for the day and it is time to cook dinner.” — Meghan Splawn, Food Editor

“I made five little changes to my kitchen when quarantine started and I had to figure out how to do my job from home. One of them was as simple as hanging up this shelving unit from West Elm. Now, I have a (sturdy) place to store and display my Dutch ovens.” — Amelia Rampe, Studio Food Editor

Did you buy anything to help you get more organized this year? Tell us about your best purchases in the comments below!